What is a Sichuan takin?

If guests at the San Diego Zoo are not sure what a Sichuan takin is, it is not from lack of exposure. The takin enclosure is located inside Panda Trek, one of the zoo’s most perpetually mobbed exhibits. But in their eagerness to get to the roly-poly stars of the show, visitors tend to hustle past the dusty enclosure that is home to the small herd of shaggy antelope-goats with the curved horns and the split hooves. It’s their loss.

If they would just hang back for a moment, they could feast their eyes on Hsi Hsi (pronounced “Cee-Cee”), the adorable, not-yet-shaggy baby takin toddling toward the sound of senior keeper Becky Kier’s clicker and the promise of her second bottle-feeding of the day.

Hsi Hsi was born on May 22 to first-time mother Duli, who was sick while she was pregnant and still under the weather when Hsi Hsi was born. (She has since recovered.) When zoo staffers saw that the baby wasn’t nursing, the Neonatal Assisted Care Unit took over feeding duties. Hsi Hsi has taken to her goat-milk based formula like a champ, and she is currently guzzling three quarts a day and gaining almost seven pounds a week.

And with the help of her aunts, Mei and Eve, she is busy learning to be a takin. Hsi Hsi is already an agile climber and enthusiastic head-butter. She is not at all interested in the humans who show up three times a day with her quart of formula and an animal biscuit for a treat. For the keepers on the other side of the bottle, that is the best news of all.

“So far, she is acclimated completely,” Kier says after wiping Hsi Hsi’s formula-covered face and sending her on her way. “She would definitely rather hang out with her kind than with me.”

CAPTION

Two young elephant calves at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park enjoyed a high-spirited play session

Two young elephant calves at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park enjoyed a high-spirited play session

CAPTION

Two young elephant calves at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park enjoyed a high-spirited play session

Two young elephant calves at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park enjoyed a high-spirited play session

CAPTION

The eldest of three giant pandas at the San Diego Zoo, Gao Gao left Tuesday morning on his way back home to China.

The eldest of three giant pandas at the San Diego Zoo, Gao Gao left Tuesday morning on his way back home to China.

CAPTION

Wu, the panda, celebrates his 6th birthday at the San Diego Zoo.

Wu, the panda, celebrates his 6th birthday at the San Diego Zoo.

CAPTION

The baby elephant, dubbed Umzula-zuli, was born late Sunday night to Ndlulamitsi, better known as “Ndlula.”

The baby elephant, dubbed Umzula-zuli, was born late Sunday night to Ndlulamitsi, better known as “Ndlula.”

CAPTION

The greater one-horned rhinoceros was once widespread in Southeast Asia, but it is now found only in India and Nepal. It differs from other rhino species, as it has an armor-plated appearance—but that “armor” is actually a layer of skin that has many folds.

The greater one-horned rhinoceros was once widespread in Southeast Asia, but it is now found only in India and Nepal. It differs from other rhino species, as it has an armor-plated appearance—but that “armor” is actually a layer of skin that has many folds.